David Essex & Catherine Zeta Jones: True Love Ways Single (1994)

A True Love Ways Winter’s Tale

David Essex & Catherine Zeta Jones’s “True Love Ways” was released as a 7-inch vinyl single, limited edition with poster, CD maxi-single, and two cassette variants in the UK on November 14, 1994, on PolyGram TV (catalogue: TLW 7 / 851 118-7). Backed with David Essex’s “A Winter’s Tale,” this romantic Buddy Holly cover (Holly/Petty) and festive Mike Batt/Tim Rice ballad, both produced by Jeff Wayne (A) and Mike Batt (B), were issued to promote Essex’s album Back To Back. It peaked at No. 38 on the UK Singles Chart for 3 weeks. Issued in silver plastic injection labels, poster sleeve, CD with bonus track, and cassette with bent/short arms and Dolby, it’s a heartfelt ‘90s charity-tinged reissue pair.

Single Overview

A-Side: “True Love Ways” (3:12)

Written-By – Holly, Petty. Arranged By [Arrangement], Programmed By [Programming], Keyboards, Guitar [Guitars] – Kipper. Producer – Jeff Wayne. Recorded By, Mixed By – Gareth Cousins.

B-Side: “A Winter’s Tale” (4:14)

Written-By – Mike Batt, Tim Rice. Arranged By, Producer – Mike Batt.

Release Details:

Label: PolyGram TV (UK pressing, 45 RPM).

Published By –

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Lamplight Music Ltd. (A), Phonogram Ltd. (London) (B).

Copyright © – PolyGram TV.

Recorded At – Olliewood Recording Studios.

Record Company – Polygram Record Operations Ltd.

Licensed To – PolyGram TV.

Marketed By – Polygram Record Operations Ltd.

Distributed By – Polygram Record Operations Ltd.

Pressed By – DFI.

Design – Allan D. Martin.

Photography By – John Paul.

UK Formats:

Vinyl, 7" Single

Silver Plastic Injection Labels (TLW 7 / 851 118-7)

A: “True Love Ways” (3:12, Holly, Petty) – Written-By – Holly, Petty – Arranged By, Programmed By, Keyboards, Guitar – Kipper – Producer – Jeff Wayne – Recorded By, Mixed By – Gareth Cousins

B: “A Winter’s Tale” (4:14, Mike Batt, Tim Rice) – Written-By – Mike Batt, Tim Rice – Arranged By, Producer – Mike Batt

Vinyl, 7" Single, Limited Edition

Includes Double Sided Poster (TLW 7 / 851 118-7)

A: “True Love Ways” (3:12, Holly, Petty) – Written-By – Holly, Petty – Arranged By, Programmed By, Keyboards, Guitar – Kipper – Producer – Jeff Wayne – Recorded By, Mixed By – Gareth Cousins

B: “A Winter’s Tale” (4:14, Mike Batt, Tim Rice) – Written-By – Mike Batt, Tim Rice – Arranged By, Producer – Mike Batt

CD, Maxi-Single

PolyGram TV – TLWCD 2, PolyGram TV – 851 118-2

1: David Essex & Catherine Zeta Jones – “True Love Ways” (3:12) – Written-By – Holly, Petty – Producer – Jeff Wayne

2: David Essex – “A Winter’s Tale” (4:14) – Written-By – Mike Batt, Tim Rice – Producer – Mike Batt

3: David Essex – “Love Train” (4:33) – Producer – Jeff Wayne

Cassette, Single, Bent Arms

Clear Cassette, Bent Arms (TLWMC 4 / 851 118-4)

A1: David Essex & Catherine Zeta Jones – “True Love Ways”

A2: David Essex – “A Winter’s Tale”

B1: David Essex & Catherine Zeta Jones – “True Love Ways”

B2: David Essex – “A Winter’s Tale”

Tracks repeat both sides. Recorded in Dolby. Housed in cardboard slip sleeve.

Cassette, Single, Short Arms

Clear Cassette, Short Arms (TLWMC 4 / 851 118-4)

A1: David Essex & Catherine Zeta Jones – “True Love Ways”

A2: David Essex – “A Winter’s Tale”

B1: David Essex & Catherine Zeta Jones – “True Love Ways”

B2: David Essex – “A Winter’s Tale”

Tracks repeat both sides. Recorded in Dolby. Housed in cardboard slip sleeve.

Country Variations:

The single was released exclusively in the UK.

UK (PolyGram TV TLW 7 / 851 118-7)

Released November 14, 1994. 7-inch (standard & poster), CD maxi, two cassette variants.

Production and Context

“True Love Ways” arranged/produced by Jeff Wayne, recorded/mixed by Gareth Cousins at Olliewood Recording Studios with Kipper on keys/guitar/programming. “A Winter’s Tale” arranged/produced by Mike Batt. Originally released 1982 (B) and newly recorded with Catherine Zeta Jones (A) for 1994 TV campaign. Zeta Jones, then 25, was rising post-The Darling Buds of May; Essex, 47, a veteran heartthrob. Paired for charity-tinged holiday push, “True Love Ways” is a tender Holly cover, “A Winter’s Tale” a festive classic. Bonus “Love Train” on CD from Essex’s back catalogue.

Chart Performance:

UK: No. 38 (Official Singles Chart), charting for 3 weeks.

Entry Date: November 26, 1994.

Peak: No. 38 (November 26, 1994).

Weeks on Chart: 3 (Nov 26, 1994 – Dec 10, 1994).

Chart Run: No. 38 (Nov 26), No. 44 (Dec 3), No. 59 (Dec 10).

Legacy and Collectibility

“True Love Ways” is a romantic ‘90s duet gem, “A Winter’s Tale” an enduring Christmas staple. Original UK 7-inch vinyls fetch £2–£8 on eBay/Discogs, poster edition (£10–£20), CD maxi (£3–£10), cassettes (£1–£5). Verify catalogue TLW 7.

Streams on Spotify via Essex compilations preserve the warm analog glow. This star-crossed reissue is a must-have for Essex/Zeta Jones fans and ‘90s pop collectors.

Have you felt the warmth of this True Love Ways winter duet? Does A Winter’s Tale still melt your heart each December? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube.